An unexpected gap year?

Political scientists Alexander Lee, an associate professor of political science, and Jack Paine, an associate professor of political science at Emory University, have found that the large disparity in state revenue collection between Western and non-Western states didn’t happen until the 20th century—much later than commonly thought.

Several offices closing early Monday

University Finance, Budget, ORACS, and Payroll Offices at Corporate Woods, the Bursar’s Office on the River Campus, Accounts Payable and Purchasing Offices at Brooks Landing, and the Office of the Treasury at College Town will be closed starting at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 31. If you are picking up a check from Accounts Payable on Monday, please do so by 11 a.m. The offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1.

Officials and lawmakers push for government transparency on UFOs

CNN, July 27

“It’s great that people are interested in the stuff I study as a scientist, you know, in terms of life in the universe,” says Adam Frank, the Helen F. and Fred H. Gowen Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “But the real question is does any of what we heard yesterday from a scientific point of view point to life in the universe outside of Earth, and the answer is no in terms of hard data.”

Learn more about the Family Care program

The Family Care program offers resources ranging from Care.com premium memberships, subsidized backup care, daycare tuition discounts, and the child care subsidy. Learn more at a webinar on Tuesday, August 8, at noon. Register here and visit the Family Care website for details.

Webinar on a parent’s guide to kids and money

The Office of Total Rewards hosts a webinar, “A Parent’s Guide to Kids and Money (from Toddlers to Teens)” on Wednesday, August 9, from noon to 1 p.m. Learn about the relationship between children and money from a parent’s perspective and ways to teach you children valuable money habits. The webinar will be conducted by a representative from MetLife. Enroll here to save your spot.

Summer research symposium

Join the David T. Kearns Center at its Summer Research Symposium today, July 28, in the Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. The symposium will celebrate the accomplishments of more than 60 undergraduate research scholars who participated in a 10-week summer program at the University. Panel discussions will take place from 9:20 to 9:50 a.m. and 1:15 to 1:45 p.m.; oral presentations will take place from 10:10 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:55 to 3:10 p.m.; poster sessions will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:20 to 4:20 p.m.

Bruster’s Ice Cream fundraiser at Medical Center next week

Purchase a two-scoop dish of ice cream on Wednesday, August 2, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and a portion of the sales will be donated to Friends of Strong in support of patient- and family-centered care. The Bruster’s truck will be in front of Golisano Children’s Hospital on Crittenden Boulevard with 10 flavors to choose from—including a gluten-free, a vegan, and a fat-free, no-sugar-added option. Advance tickets are recommended and available at the hospital gift shop. Call (585) 275-2420 with questions.

Take a class with the Warner School

Learn if a Warner School of Education and Human Development graduate degree is the right program for you by taking a non-matriculated class this fall. Registration for non-matriculated courses is now open. Course topics include trauma-informed leadership, contemporary issues in higher education, interpersonal systems in counseling, literacy learning as social practice, and more. Consider a nonmatriculated start and learn more at an upcoming information session on Tuesday, August 8, from 5 to 6 p.m. at Beerhead Bar and Eatery in College Town and register with the Warner School non-matriculated student application.  Contact admissions for assistance.

Outdoor soccer league

A recreational mixed-gender soccer league will play on Wednesdays after 5 p.m. at Genesee Valley Park in August and September. Participants can join as a team or individually. Complete information can be found here.

On exhibit through November 26, Beyond Beauty features artwork from the Memorial Art Gallery’s permanent collection in which artists have purposefully chosen subjects and styles that go beyond traditional associations between art and beauty to express their vision, communicate powerful messages, and evoke a response in the viewer. On Thursday, August 31, you can take a tour of the exhibit with its curator, Lauren Tagliaferro. The tour is limited to 20 people; reserve your tickets here.